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The 49ers’ placekicker added a chapter to his nightmarish season when his only field-goal attempt, a 38-yarder, clanged off the top of the left upright in the third quarter of San Francisco’s 28-24 win over Atlanta on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game.

Akers, who was among the first players to leave for the team bus, was asked if he expected to kick in San Francisco’s final game.

“I’m here until they tell me otherwise,” Akers said outside the locker room.

Akers, who has missed 15 of his past 38 attempts dating back to Week 3, earned the right to kick in the postseason after he survived a weeklong practice competition this month with Billy Cundiff, who was waived Friday.

Akers attempted to accentuate the positive after his latest miss, noting that all five of his kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.

“Three inches to the right and I would have had a perfect game today,” Akers said. “All touchbacks, real deep balls so they couldn’t get returns. I felt really good going out and kicking the ball. I thought it would come in a little bit more.

“Again, it’s just one of those things I just keep scratching my head.”

Later, he said: “I struck the ball and it lands on top of the goalpost. Figure that one out and let me know.”

His latest miss was particularly troubling, given his accuracy from inside 40 yards, where he made 19 of 22 attempts during the regular season. The 49ers were trailing 24-21 when he pushed his attempt left with 5:51 left in the third quarter.

When Akers came onto the field, Falcons cornerback Asante Samuel gleefully yelled at the kicker.

After Akers missed the field-goal try, Jim Harbaugh shook his head and his shoulders sagged.

As a result of his miss, Akers, who was with the Eagles when they lost the 2005 Super Bowl to the Patriots, might not be guaranteed to make a second trip.

“It lands on top of the goalpost,” Akers said. “It’s kind of a crazy thing. I’m just glad it didn’t affect anything. It’s just an awesome feeling for the guys to be going to the Super Bowl. (I’ve) been able to play there one time and came up just a little bit short.”